The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-29
PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
A Physician's Notion of What is Good
and WHAT'S Bad for Man to Do.
Dr.. S. fleet Spjer o. The Epoc

and WHAT'S Bad for Il Man to Do.
DR.. s. fleet Spjer %. the Epoch.
] am a sttong believer in physical cul-
ture hut physical culture is something en-
tirely different from outdoor sports as they
are carried on al present. Americans do
not take enough exercise. Many patients
that cone1to the doctor need outdoor exer-
else morethan they do medicine AS some
one has said, the dyspepsia from which a
man sufhrs is oftentimes more in his legs
than in his stomach. The great difficulty
with cur sports is that they develop one
set of muscles at the expense of the others
A nan who trains for a speciality is
trained only in the parts of the body
brought chiefly into play in that partcu-
lar sport or recreation. A tennis PLAYER
trains in one way, a runner in another, while
q boati1iiin goes through an entirely differ
ept course from either, Each of these ath-
letes is strong in one direction, but he has
neglected general muscular exercises for the
sake of developing a special locality twill
be found that the man who is physically
strong in special sport. is weak in some
part of his body. A man, for instance, who
intends to be runner will so train as TO de-
velop the muscles of his legs; but he will re-
duce the weight of his body above his legs
in order to carry less weight.
Pedestrlanlsln is wholesome when INDUCED
in for pleasure, but is bad in contests. The
professional pedestrian finally becomes thor
oughly broken up; the stomach and general
system are exhausted by too much exertion.
Rowing is one Of the best exercises if in
dulged in moderately, but an oarsman can
row in a contest until entirely exhausted,
and not know it until he is taken from his
boat paralyzed. so to speak.
Base ball is full of danger, especially to
the pitcher So true is this that the base
ball pitchers arm, as well as the tennis arm,
are recognized in the medical profession as
special diseases. The exercise in base ball
is very violent, and sooner or later causes
overstrain
Tennis is violent exercise, and is liable
to be carried too far.
Running is too much of an outburst to be
of service in a general way, and is only
good on account of the previous training
necessary to follow it up 1t carries its own
remedy with it in the natural giving out of
the legs before the rest of the body is ex-
hausted.
Training should bring up the general
physical status to point that will enable it
to endure its utmost and with just little
to spare for the push of the urgent moment.
There should be just enough strength left to
make the finish better than the start
to break the record of the individual so to
speak. and leave him in better physical CON
dition than before The sensible and physi-
illogical way for man to take outdoor
sport is acting ON medical authority to de-
velop by special exercises the parts of his
body that are weak If a man takes any
pride in a Systematically rounded physique
he should give his whole attention to the
organs that are weak. 1t is surprising to
me that horseback exercise is not INDUCED
in more than it is. Many young men spend
enough money on their vices or follies to
enable them to buy and keep a horse
would suggest that for those who cannot
own horse, riding clubs might be formed.
Let the horses be used by members of the
clubs, just as boats are used by boating
clubs. The expense of keeping the horses
under such conditions, when divided up
among MEMBERS would be small, and the
horseback exercise could be varied with the
more vigorous sports in which most young
men now indulge. In that way the
strength of the body would be more equal
lied. The outskirts of New York and
Brooklyn furnish many lanes and roads that
lead through beautiful country, and the
riders could not fail to enjoy themselves.
do not know of any outdoor exercise SO
suitable for menIas the sports of the field.
Hunting is healthful and beneficial
sport. There is just enough excitement
about it to make the exercise you take bene-
fetal While you are walking YOU are
thinking about something of interest; while
your body is being exercised your brain
gets stimulus. Hunting is good for the well
and good for many who are sick. l have
known invalids, sent to the South with the
advice that they should go shooting, to
come back restored to health. The man
who combines hunting in the field with
horseback riding, as is done in the South
has the best kind of outdoor recreation
Field sports are for young
men; the older ones must be content with
fishing or following the rabbit. recall the
case of the veteran writer for the sporting
papers, Horace Smith. While yet young
man he was given up by his physician to die
of consumption. He was in business, and
his doctor told him that he had better stop
work and devote the remainder of his life to
his dog and gun. Mr.. Smith acted on the
suggestion, and l am willing to admit that
possibly the doctor advised better than he
knew, for this same young man died only
recently at the age of 50. In the sporting
papers, to which he was constant and val
liable contributor; he constantly made pub
lie the fact that he attributed his restored
health to exercises taken in the field
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